Team Malta is officially in Taranto for the 20th Mediterranean Games, with 35 Maltese athletes set to compete across 14 disciplines in Italy.
The Maltese contingent was welcomed at the Athletes’ Village by Village Mayor Alessia Maurelli, who presented Chef de Mission Charlene Attard with a token before the Maltese flag was raised and the national anthem played. The welcome was also confirmed by the Maltese Olympic Committee on Friday.
The Games run in Taranto from 21 August to 3 September, bringing together athletes from across the Mediterranean.
35 athletes across 14 disciplines
Malta will compete in athletics, badminton, cycling, artistic gymnastics, karate, Raffa, rowing, sailing, shooting, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.
The Team Malta squad is:
Athletics: Claire Azzopardi, Dillon Cassar, Matthew Galea Soler, Jared Micallef, Luke Micallef Perconte, Graham Pellegrini, Jeremy Zammit
Artistic Gymnastics: Philippa Busuttil
Badminton: Sam Cassar, Francesca Clark, Martina Clark
Cycling: Aidan Buttigieg, Bernard Galea, Andrea Mifsud
Karate: Thyis Antonelli
Raffa: Stefan Farrugia
Rowing: Mark Schembri
Sailing: Mia Busuttil, Matthew Flores, Katrina Micallef, Benjamin Vassallo
Shooting: Eleanor Bezzina, André Cassar, Gianluca Chetcuti, William Chetcuti, Liam Sciberras
Taekwondo: Alycia Cassar
Tennis: Alex Degabriele, Liam Delicata, Elaine Genovese
Triathlon: Kai Azzopardi, Danica Bonello Spiteri, Ryan Muscat
Weightlifting: Tenishia Thornton
Wrestling: Nico Zarb
Cassar and Clark to carry the Maltese flag
Skeet shooter André Cassar and badminton player Francesca Clark will lead the Maltese delegation as flag bearers at the opening ceremony at the Iacovone Stadium.
Malta has been part of the Mediterranean Games since the inaugural edition in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1951. Across its history at the Games, Maltese athletes have won nine medals — one gold, four silver and four bronze.
Maltese Olympic Committee President Julian Pace Bonello described the Games as an important multi-sport stage for Malta’s athletes and said the Taranto edition offers both a celebration of Mediterranean sporting culture and a competitive arena.
Malta’s first athletes in action on Saturday
Team Malta’s competitive campaign begins on Saturday, 22 August.
Sam Cassar and Francesca Clark will contest the badminton mixed doubles qualifying rounds in Francavilla Fontana, while Stefan Farrugia begins his Raffa singles qualifying campaign in Montemesola.
Cyclists Aidan Buttigieg and Andrea Mifsud will tackle the individual time trial on the Taranto city circuit, while André Cassar and Liam Sciberras begin skeet qualification in Torricella, with 75 targets scheduled across the day.
It marks the start of a busy Mediterranean Games for one of Malta’s most ambitious contingents at the event, with athletes representing the country across a wide range of sports over the coming days.
